EU Spokesperson Olof Gill announced that the two sides are approaching an agreement in principle, following a phone call on Sunday between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Gill described the exchange between von der Leyen and Trump as productive, noting, “The EU and the US are at least at the beginning of the endgame for an agreement in principle.”
The EU aims to finalize the trade deal by July 9, before the US raises tariffs to 50%.
President Trump had previously imposed tariffs on nearly all of the United States’ trading partners in a bid to boost domestic manufacturing, claiming the measures were intended to prevent other countries from unfairly profiting at the US’s expense.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met over the weekend with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to explore ways to resolve the ongoing trade dispute.
Merz’s Chief Spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, acknowledged that time is running short but added that they remain optimistic.
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